Anzac Day - honouring ANZACs in 2020

Anzac Day 2020

Marion residents are being invited to decorate their neighbourhoods with swathes of red poppies in the lead up to ANZAC Day.

The Council and Scouts SA this week launched Pop up Poppies to enable the community to honour the ANZACs following the cancellation of public ceremonies due to the coronavirus.

Families are being asked to make paper poppies and display them in their gardens, on fences and in windows.

Chief executive officer City of Marion Adrian Skull said although public ANZAC commemorations had been cancelled, people could still pay their respects.

“Pop up Poppies encourages people to transform their neighbourhoods into memorials fitting for the ANZACs,” Mr Skull said.

“This is a novel way for people to pay their respects given that we can’t assemble as we normally do. I encourage the community to fill their windows, gardens, and fences with red poppies.

“People can photograph their displays and post them on the City of Marion Facebook page to create a community tribute.”

Volunteers at Marion’s neighbourhood centres have begun making poppies to display in the windows of Council facilities.

Step-by-step instructions and a video on how to make poppies using paper plates, cellophane, crepe paper, textures, and crayons are available on the City of Marion website marion.sa.gov.au/poppy-making

Pop up Poppies is a partnership between Marion Council and Scouts SA.

Chief Commissioner Scouts SA Jan Turbill said: “Scouts SA has a long history of honouring our past and current service men and women.”

“Every community across South Australia is used to seeing our young people participating in youth vigils, Dawn Services and assisting to carry emblems and flags at the Anzac day parades.

“This year, although we cannot honour them in the same way we are encouraging families to help the RSL ‘light up the dawn’ and make poppies while reflecting on the Anzacs.”

The RSL is encouraging people to Light up the Dawn by going to the end of their driveway or stand on their balcony or front room at 6am with a candle or light from their torch as part of a virtual Dawn Service on 25 April.

Folk rock band The BordererS will perform a special ANZAC Day eve online concert live from the Marion Cultural Centre’s Domain Theatre at 7pm on Friday, 24 April.

The ‘We’ll Meet Again’ singalong will include iconic anthems ‘Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kitbag’ and ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’ and can be viewed for free via the Marion Cultural Centre Facebook page.

Mr Skull said: “It is especially important to recognise the sacrifice of servicemen and women during COVID-19.”

“Decorating our neighbourhoods with poppies will create a powerful symbol. It will show local veterans their community is thinking of them.”

The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over.

People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or who still serve.

Other ANZAC DAY information

5.00am: A live radio broadcast of the National Memorial Service from the Australian War Memorial on ABCTV, iview, Radio and online. This includes from around 6am The Last Post and a minute’s silence, where we can mark our respect together as South Australians.

6.00am: Dawn Service from the Adelaide National War Memorial, which will be available on ABC Radio Adelaide, ABC Regional stations and television.

11.30am: Two-minute reflection which includes The Ode, The Last Post followed by a minute’s silence across ABC TV, iview, Radio and online

6.55pm: The Governor-General, David Hurley Anzac Day message on ABC TV and Radio